Collapsible cabana



Filed Sept. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNV ENTOR William Girten Jan. 24, 1961 w. GIRTEN COLLAPSIBLE CABANA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1959 FIG.3.

INVENTO R \Mlliam Girfen BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE CABANA William Gil-ten, 805 SW. 20th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Filed Sept. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 838,965

3 Claims. (Cl. 135-5) This invention relates to cabanas, and more particularly to collapsible, portable cabanas.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a readily portable cabana for setting up on the beach, lawn, or the like, to protect as much of the body as may be desired from being too rapidly sunburned or windburned, and which is foldable into a neat, compact bundle for easy transportation and storage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible, portable cabana which is light in weight, relatively cheap to construct, and which can easily be assembled by one person without the use of complicated instructions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible, portable cabana which, in spite of its light weight, may be set up on the beach, lawn, or the like, to form a reliable shelter which can withstand the wind with-out losing its shape or without breaking.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a foldable cabana which can be conveniently and easily carried by one person and which can also be erected on the beach, lawn, or the like, by one person.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

The foregoing objects are accomplished through the provision of a top cover having a plurality of supports for the said top cover, means for collapsing the top cover and the plurality of top cover supports from their extended position, means for maintaining the top cover and the plurality of top cover supports in an extended position, and a sidewall cover having a plurality of struts for the sidewall cover corresponding to the number of top cover supports, each sidewall cover strut acting as a support for the corresponding top cover support at one end and being firmly positioned in the beach, lawn, or the like, at the other end.

A top cover made of canvas or fabric material connects the top cover supports and is likewise used to cover the struts of the sidewall cover.

My invention will appear more clearly from the following described description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portable cabana constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section, showing how the top supports are telescopically engaged with the sidewall supports;

Fig. 5 is a view of the flattened end of one of the top supponts;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with parts broken away, of the clamping means for the ends of the top supports, and

ice

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The cabana shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings comprise a plurality of tubular rods 5, which support the top canvas 1. The rods shown are preferably made of aluminum, although any light-weight material may be used. The top canvas is made in sections, so that the canvas covers the rods, thus giving greater strength and a tailored fit to the top canvas. The top rods are bent, as shown by 6, through a angle at one end, and the top canvas extends slightly below the end of the rod, as shown by 7, so that the top canvas overlaps the sidewall canvas 12. The top rods are of slightly varying lengths, the longest being approximately 45", including a 9" ninety degree bent section. Obviously, rods of any other suitable dimensions may be used, depending upon the size and height of the cabana desired.

Each of t e top rods is made of tubular aluminum, having a 4' outside diameter and a /8" inside diameter. One end of the tubular rods (see Fig. 5) is fla-ttened, as shown by 9 and has a hole 10 drilled therethrough, into which rivets 12 are inserted, so as to fasten the rod 5 to the aluminum plate support 11 (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

The other end of the top rod 5 fits down into the reduced diameter end of the sidewall strut 3, which is the support for the sidewall canvas. The other end of the sidewall strut is pointed. as shown at 4, for driving into the beach, lawn, or the like. The sidewall struts are preferably made of wood, although some other lightweight material may be used.

The tubular rods 5 which support the top canvas are attached to the aluminum plate 11 by means of rivets 12 through holes 10, and when the cabana is in its extended position it assumes the position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The rods 5 are, however, made swingable about the rivets 12 and can be made to collapse so that they, along with the canvas top, can be folded into a compact bundle for ease of carrying and storage.

In order that the tubular rods may assume the proper position when the cabana top is fully extended, a plastic clamp 13 is provided. This clamp is attached to the aluminum plate 11 by means of clamping bolts 15 and wing nuts 16 through holes 17 drilled into the aluminum plate 13. The plastic clamp 13 has formed therein grooves 14 so positioned that when the aluminum rods 5 are extended to the proper position the rods 5 fall into the grooves 14. In order to securely lock the rods 5 into position, Wing nuts 16 are tightened to hold the rods in proper alignment while the struts for the sidewall canvas 3 are positioned in the beach, lawn, or the like.

In use the cabana of the present invention is folded for storage and transportation by first disengaging the aluminum rods from the reduced diameter ends of the sidewall struts by lifting them from their horizontal position. The wing nuts that fasten the plastic clamps to the aluminum plate are then unscrewed, thus allowing the aluminum tubular rods to become disengaged from the grooves in the plastic clamp. The aluminum rods are then made to swing about the rivets so that they extend parallel to one another, the top canvas being wrapped around the rods, thus making a compact bundle only about 36" long and 6" wide. As soon as the rods are in their folded position the plastic clamp is then again loosely attached to the aluminum plate by inserting the clamping bolt through the holes in the plastic clamp and the aluminum plate, after which the wing nuts are screwed onto the clamping bolts, thus reducing the likelihood of losing the plastic clamp from the aluminum plate. The struts of the sidewall canvas are then disengaged from the ground and the canvas wrapped around the struts to form a compact unit. The .two separate bundles are then conveniently fastened together by a rope, or other means, and carried as a single unit for transporting intothe trunk of a car, or for storage. While I have disclosed the use of .a plastic clamp member forholding my cabana in -its extended position, any other material light in weight which has sufiicient strength and rigiditymay be employed.

The materials of construction of my -new and novel cabana are all relatively light in weight and when fully assembled in a package weightless'than fifteen pounds.

Furthermore, the cabanacan-be easily assembled by one person without difiiculty or'withoutresort to use of complicated instructions.

The cabana of the present invention provides a shelter from the sun or :wind, for use on-the beach, lawn, or the like. It is light in weight, can be readily 'transported within the trunk of an automobile and when folded takes up little storage space, but when extended in position affords ample shelter for several persons.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction materials and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A light weight collapsible and readily set up cabana comprising a top canvas cover supported by a plurality of hollow aluminum rod supports, one end of which is bent through a 90 angle and theother end supported by a plate, means for swingably fastening the hollow aluminum rod supports to the said plate, a

grooved clamp member into which the hollow aluminum rod supports rest when the top cover is in its extended position, means for fastening the clamp member to the plate, and a sidewall canvas cover supported by a plurality of struts, the number of struts corresponding to the number of the hollow aluminum rod supports, each sidewall cover strut supporting a hollow aluminum rod support atits top end and having its bottom end pointed so that it can be easily driven into the ground fortsupporting the sidewall cover in substantially an upright position.

2. A collapsible and readily set up cabana comprising a plurality of L shaped rod supports around which is fastened a top canvas cover, a plate member supporting the L shaped rod supports at one end, means for swingably fastening the L shaped rod supports to the plate member, agrooved clamp 'rnemberinto which the L shaped rod supports rest-when the top canvas cover is in its fully extended position, means for securing the clamp member to the plate, and a sidewall canvas cover overlapping the top canvas cover ,and supported by a plurality of struts, the number thereof corresponding to the number of the L shaped rod supports, each sidewall cover strut supporting an L shaped rod support at the top end thereof and having its other end pointed so that same' can be easily driven into the sand, thus supporting the sidewall oover -in substantiall-yan upright position.

'3. A collapsible and readily set up cabana comprising a plurality of hollow aluminum L shaped mod supports around which is fastened a top canvas cover, a plate member, means for swingably fastening a hollow aluminum L shaped rod support to the plate member, a grooved clamp member into which the hollow aluminum L shaped rod supports rest when the top canvas cover is in its extended position for use, means for securing the clamp member to the plate member when in use and for disengaging the clamp member from the plate when not extended for use, and a sidewall canvas cover overlapping the top canvas cover supported by a plurality of sidewall struts, the number of such struts corresponding to the number of the hollow aluminum L shaped rod supports, each sidewall strut supporting a hollow aluminum L shaped rod support at one end, the other end being capable of being driven into the ground for supporting the said sidewall cover in substantially an upright position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,456 Peterson et al. Mar. 4, 1873 2,530,765 Greenup Nov. 21, 1950 2,547,770 Pelton Apr. 3, 1951 

